Tomb or grave closing device



1927. June H. J. auszv TOMB OB GRAVE CLOSING DEVICE Filed April s. 1926 I 2 Sheets-sheaf 2 FIG-3 Em? mzm I INVENTbRQ Helper: J. Buscy ATTORNEY.

Patented June 7, 1927.

UNITED STATES HUBER- T J. BUSEY, OF WICIIITA, KANSAS.

TOMB OR GRAVE CLOSING DEVICE.

Application filed. April 5, 1926. Serial No. 99,952.

My invention relates to a tomb covering device.

The object of th s invention is to PIOVtClG an apparatus, which is inconspicuous, works.

smoothly, and has an automatic means or operation. I

Another ()bJQCl; that when the service at the grave is closed the casket is then lowered, and in its descent. the covering automatically closes the tomb, leaving the appearance of a grass covered mound. Y

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 a plan view of a tomb and a casket, supported in alowering device, with the covering placed thereon, but partly removed for corn venience of illustration. Fig. 2 isa sectional view taken along the line IIII in Fig. 1, looking in the direct-ion of the. arrows. F ig. 3 is a sectional view, taken along the line 11-11 in Fig. 1. showing the casket in the raised position, before it is lowered into the tomb. Fig. 4 is an enlarged, sectional detail, taken along the line, IV-IV in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is an enlarged view, taken on a line correspondingto- IVIV on the opposite end of the grave. Fig. 6 is a b0ttom view of Fig. 5, with the support removed. Fig. 7 is a detail of the side of the ends of the bracket support. a transverse sectional view of F ig. 7. Fig. 9 is the same as Fig. 8, except it is the bracket on the opposite end of the grave. Fig. 10 is a sectional view of the supporting rod shown in Figs. 1 and 5. Fig. 11 is an edge view of the hook, which is attached to a strap, and adapted to hook on the rod in Fig. 10, as an actuating means for the rod, shown in Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a plan view of Fig. 11. Fig. 13 is an end view of Fig. 12. Y

The tomb 10 has a lining 11 and around the grave at the surface are boards 12 functioning on a substantial hearing. for the support of any standard casket lowering device 13. The casket 14 is supported by straps 15 that wind on rollers 16 and 17 and the rotation thereof is actuated by the weight of the casket, and controlled by the operator.

This invention consists'of two support frames, 18, one at either end of the grave, having legs 19 adapted to fit into holes or suitable mountings in the end boards 12. Rods 20 are adapted to slidably engage in pipes 20 for longitudinal adjustment (hereinafter termed as rods), imitation Fig. 8 is green grass A woven into or aflixed to a fabric base 13, a hem-alongthe edge of the fabric base adapted to receive the rods 20 and 20,two sets oi" straps 21 and 22, one

at either end ofthe grave, one end of said straps 21 being attached to and wound aroundthemember 17. the opposite end 0t said strap being attached to a hook 23 which i .is adapted to hook onto a suitable fastening 24 on the rods 20 and 20.

7 Likewise are straps 22 attached to the members 16 and 20. The members 20 and 20 are provided with hooks 24 adapted to hook over the rounded upper portion 25 of the supports 18 and the supports '18 act as a track on which the rods 20 and 20' may slide.

26 and 26"are rods adapted to telescope. the same as rods 20 and 20', and are held in position by being placed in a hole 27 in the hooked end 28 of the support 18. The rods 26 and 26 form a longitudinal support for the imitation grass, (hereinafter called the green), along the edge of the grave. The supports 18 are provided with an extended lip 29 having suitable fastenings 30, spaced longitudinally thereon as shown in Fig. 3, said fasteners adapted to support a covering for the ends.

Then the grave is prepared to receive the casket, the rods 20 and 20 are separated,

resting close to the rods 26 as shown in Fig. 3, the straps 21 and 22 are adapted to wind on the rollers 16 and 17, straps 22 are attached to rod 20, while straps 21 are attached to rod 20, therefore the rotation of rods 16 and 17, actuated by the weight of the casket is means for winding up the straps 21 and 22, drawing the rods 20 and 20 to close engagement, with each other," carrying with them the green covering. It will be understood that the said straps will have suflicient slack to allow the top of the casket to pass below the rods 20 and 20, at which time the slack will be taken up, drawing the rods together as above described, carrying with them the covering, prior to the closing of the cover. Note that the covering is folded beneath rods 26 as shown in Fig. 3.

The operation of this device is as follows: The casket is placed on the carrying straps 15, which are wound on the rollers 16 and 17, is stationarily supported until released for the descent, it being understood that the edges of the green are placed close to the sides of the casket to prevent the unsightly view into the tomb.

The space between the top of the casket and the rods and 20, as the casket goes down may be varied or adjusted by the amount of slack left in the straps '21 and 22 at the time the device is assembled. This adjustment alloWs for sp-acerequired for different heights of caskets.

Such modifications may be made as lie Within the scope of the appended claims, and having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Let *ters Patent is:

' 1. In a tomb or grave closing device, in combination with a casket lowering device, pipes having rods slidably engaging therein for longitudinal variation, a curvature on the outer extremities ot the rods and the pipes to slrdably engage on the end trames of the casket lowering device, a fabric grass like covering attached to said rods and pipes,

straps attached. to the ends or": said pipes and rods, said straps crossing and adapted to Wind on the rollers carrying the casket drawing the said pipes and rods carrying with them the covering simultaneously to contact 'i-nthe center of tomb.

" 2111a tomb or grave closing device, in

end support frames, fabric coverings having.

hems in the sides thereof to engage over first said rods, second said rods functioning as horizontal supporting means for said covering While sliding thereon, straps 21 and 22 connected to the ends of the rollerslsupporb ing the casket, said straps crossing to the opposite side and connecting to the ends of the first said rods so that the rotation of the rollers by the Weight'ot the "casket will draw the first said rods together carrying the fabric as a covering for the tomb, an end covering supported by the end frames, the said fabric covering co operatmg with the tirst said fabric covering, substantially as shown.

H. J. 'BUSEY; 

